City Rejects Busy Corner Gas Station

PLANTATION — The City Council has turned down plans for a third gasoline station on Flamingo Road in the Plantation Acres area.

In a 3-1 vote on Wednesday, council members refused to grant permission for an Amoco station on land zoned for business in the northeast corner of Flamingo Road and Sunrise Boulevard.

Council member Larry Freilich said the city should not approve a gas station just because traffic has increased due to the Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise. "Are we then bound to continue that circus into Plantation?" he asked.

Frank Glusman, the developer, had said the gas station is needed. "If you stand on the corner, the traffic is like Park Avenue in New York," Glusman said. "You have thousands of cars."

The gas station proposal called for six islands, a convenience store and a car wash. The request for a drive-up window to the convenience store had been dropped.

Freilich, council member Ron Jacobs and council president Edd Weiner voted against the proposal.

Council member Rae Carole Armstrong was absent. Council member Ralph Merritt said he objected to the gas station, but he voted for it because he thinks the city could lose in court if sued over the denial.

The city previously has lost in court when sued for denying another gas station in that area.

Residents were pleased with the decision. They had asked the council to reject the gas station because they say they are trying to preserve the rural character of the area.

The Plantation Acres area currently has a Shell station on Flamingo Road near State Road 84. Another gas station across the street has been approved by the City Council, but has not yet been built.

Discussion on another proposal for part of the site has been postponed until Nov. 16. That plan calls for building a Pep Boys auto parts and repair store.